I like how everyone has a different answer. I think in other Zelda games, it would be more universally one track. But Breath of the Wild works with people in all kinds of ways, it means something different to everyone
Fun fact, in A Link Between Worlds, there is a major theme of how Lorule is a mirror of Hyrule, and because of that, the Lorule castle theme is the Hyrule castle theme in reverse
The Minish Cap is such an underrated Zelda game developed by Capcom that it's criminal that not a lot of people in the Zelda community talk about. Beautiful art direction. One of the best looking games on the GBA that still holds up even today visually. I especially LOVE the Minish Woods and Minish Village theme. There's just this calming and nostalgic quality to them that I just never get tired of listening to.
I could not agree more!! I grew up with The Minish Cap and this game has this perfect childlike and comforting atmosphere that really just makes this game feel like it’s giving you a hug whenever you are playing it! Definitely one of my favorite Zelda games, and one of my favorite Zelda soundtracks!
Capcom Zelda games are in need for a remake or at the very least re-release. They are so underrated, loved both oracle games and i need to play Minish Cap.
Developed by Capcom and Flagship, with Nintendo overseeing the development process Flahship are the company developping before that The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages!!!
personally, I'd give skyward sword an S tier. it's so good. I really love that soundtrack. one of the things I really like about the soundtrack that other zelda soundtracks don't to as much is how dynamic it is (other zelda soundtracks do of course have this, just not as much or not as obviously). almost all the music in lanayru is a good example, there's a different version for the past and present. other examples include skyloft, girahim, the imprisoned, skyview temple, etc. not all of the variations are even on the soundtrack. also, I'd put a link between worlds higher. in general, I personally rank the music more based on how much I enjoy listening to it, but even without that, I think it deserves better than D. it doesn't have to be A or S, but atleast higher than D in my opinion. I don't think we can really blame the game's soundtrack for being a lot of link to the past remixes considering what the game is. it's a different case than four swords adventures, which is entirely its own game, yet still has link to the past remixes for no good reason. (plus, ALBW's original themes are all REALLY good, even some of the more minor ones) and honestly, the remixes are all so good and add in so much originality in too. the hyrule dungeon theme is fantastic.
Idk man, I was left highly unimpressed by Skyward Sword's ost. I agree it had some key songs that were good, but the overall sountrack was quite forgettable, at least compared to most of the other games.
Apparently I forgot how the alphabet works because I skipped E tier and went straight from D to F lol But anyway, I have a bunch of videos where I talk about video game music, make sure to check em out: czcams.com/video/65IPMLbvL28/video.html
Ocarina of Time is such a perfect example of how limitations can often foster creativity rather than stifle it. Koji Kondo being forced to make songs that use 3 note patterns led to possibly the greatest video game soundtrack of all time (at the very least, it is a strong contender)
The reason the kokiri soundtrack is used in outset Island and the forest area is because Outset Island is right above the Kokiri Forest and the Great Deku Tree in Wind Waker is heavily hinted to be the Great Deku Tree's Sprout in the adult timeline from Ocarina of Time who grew from the corpse of the Great Deku Tree in the kokiri forest. The point of using those leimotifs in the soundtrack is the game hinting at you from early on that you're standing literally on the remains of the old Hyrule from Ocarina of Time.
Wind Waker below Breath of the Wild music wise is criminal. Breath of the wild also uses old sountracks for most of its songs. Heck, Castle theme is like 3 different songs combined. But Wind Waker gets bumped down for it? Wind Waker was also different in its musical style that fits its themes and game style. Wind Waker soundtrack is S tier. Shika-Shika guy deserves more respect.
@@Hi-fd4cwforbidden forest is a part of Kokiri forest but mostly It's the lost woods. The Great Deku Tree in WW is confirmed to be Ocarina of Time's sprout. He also spokes in ancient hylian and misunderstands Link for a Kokiri (which, with time have turned into koroks)
You can't talk about OOT without mentioning Gerudo Valley, The Song of Time, and The Song of Storms. They're all fantastic. I also really enjoy the ambient music from the forest and spirit temples.
2:30 Just some info - Zelda II Adventure of Link was NOT composed by Koji Kondo, instead it was composed by Akito Nakatsuka. That's why the soundtrack sounds a bit different than the rest
Wind Waker hit me when I realized the twin sages together were the main theme of the game. The two people whom you instilled intrinsic belief in are the ones capable of restoring the power of the weapon you wield you seal Ganondorf and a failed hyrule
Sage Fado's Theme is probably the most underrated song in the game. Not the one that Makar plays, the one when you first walk in to the wind temple and meet Fado's spirit. I know it's the same song as Laruto's theme and the song that plays at the very beginning of the game, but it just hits different for some reason.
Oh man... I was waiting for Link Between Worlds, because its one of my favorite Zwlda OST's, and to see it get an F/D. The composition of some of the new tracks was great. Fit this game. Perfectly!
I’d definitely put Link’s Awakening as A-Tier at the very least. The Ballad of the Wind Fish alone makes it shoot up for me, not to mention the incredible Tal Tal Heights and the gorgeous Face Shrine.
I replayed MM recently and probably hadn't played it for 10 years and was struck how well they tell the story with the music... especially how it illustrates the theme of friendship, making friends, losing friends, forgiving people, being vulnerable. how the giants are introduced with this strange choral song, and all we are told at the end is that the skull kid was lonely and wanted friends, but with majoras mask, he went too far and was easily persuaded to kill everyone. how often do we get angry with the people in our lives, and want to shout at them? but we know we can risk hurting people. it's ultimately a story about asking for forgiveness, and being even braver, and actually forgiving people. that's why the giants, link, and tatl and tael, all come together to help their friend (remember Link and the skull kid are from the same place, and even knew each other!) anyway I love that game and I love the music!
In Link's Awakening, how could you _not_ talk about one of the best tracks ever heard coming out of a Gameboy's speaker, the theme that plays in the Tal-Tal Heights? If that didn't inspire adventure in you, I didn't know what did.
He didn't talk about a lot of excellent pieces, and he said a lot of misinformation. I recommend for him to take more time to research before making a video like this.
@@lonesilv he admitted himself that he was going off memory. he really should've listened to each of the individual soundtracks before making a video on the topic.
As a fellow composer and Zelda fanatic, when you gave Spirit Tracks and Tri Force Heroes praise, I knew that this list is valid! Very great selections.
Honestly there were a fair number of new songs in A Link Between Worlds that really stood out: the themes for Yuga, both in battle and in cutscenes, and the variation of Hilda's theme, especially stand out, as does the final boss theme.
I do have to point out though that while sure having two songs in one game based off the kokiri forest, the Forest Haven in Windwaker is literally Kokiri Forest hundreds of years later and flooded so it makes sense. Also just hearing Midna’s Lament made tears come to my eyes. I love Twilight Princess’ musoc
Yup right you are they are the same place of the Adult timeline 🌊 I realized that the first time I played wind waker back in 2002 I mean aside from the music you had the magic pixies 🧚 dust flowing around you had the big deku tree that was literally in kokiri forest of OOT not to mention the forest dungeon in wind Waker has to be the old deku tree corpse remember the deku marking on the doors twilight princess had them to in the child timeline 🌳 and they both had the boomerang 🪃 And I must say it’s so obvious that the cute kikwi of skyward sword are now doubt the starting point of the koroks!!! Existence! Along with the big kikwi being the deku tree
I will always hold BOTW in the highest regard, because it is so thematically consistent and knows exactly where to direct its intensity and when to take a back seat entirely. Plus it has some of the downright most beautiful tracks in the series, augmented by it being orchestral unlike most other titles. The only thing I do not like about the game is that I have to play it with the original japanese voices with somewhat inaccurate english subtitles due to changes made in the english dub. Because I can’t stand the english voice acting. But I have no problem at all with the japanese, in fact it fits far better with the already anime aesthetic. Also I can’t imagine putting Skyward Sword any lower than S-tier
If you set your Switch to Surround Sound and you don't have a surround sound setup in your room, it mutes the voices but keeps all the other sounds of the game. It's very strange
Thematically, Japanese doesn't really make any sense, since Hylians are essentially the British in almost every aspect except their colonialism. Artistically, sure, in some areas. But thematically, no.
@@sledgedragon2677 oh I don’t prefer the japanese because of the visual theme, I prefer it because it’s A) obviously anime in style B) I find the english voice acting unbearable.
I am slightly influenced by the Switch remake but Link's Awakening deserves a bit more credit imo. Some people mentioned Tal Tal Heights but the face shrines themes also feel very special to me, they have this quite unique dark vibe which fits really well the narrative turning point in the game!
6:58 Zelda's Lullaby was first used in A Link to the Past, though under a different name I think. EDIT: It's called "Princess Zelda's Rescue" in ALTTP, which plays when you rescue Zelda from the Castle Dungeon near the beginning of the game. The motif is also used in "Meeting the Maidens", which plays when you rescue each of the 7 crystal maidens in the Dark World (and Zelda is among their number).
I'm pretty sure it only plays after you rescue Zelda for the first time in the GBA version, I don't recall it playing in the SNES version. It still does play after rescuing a maiden though.
I loved being able to feel your own nostalgia with that spirit tracks soundtrack; I can tell it meant a lot to you growing up, even if the game isn’t as talked about now
Palace of Twilight is another track that really shows off Twilight Princess's range and ability to create dark mystique. Hearing that game's music instantly makes me want to replay it, without fail
Spirit track also has an amazing good soundtrack for the staircase in the tower of the gods. I remember standing at the top just listening to the awsome track
Crimson Loftwing theme from Skyward Sword, most underrated tune in the series. The french horn harmony intertwining with the flute is a beautiful duet.
I personally don't find song reuse throughout the series as too much of a negative, since most of the time the instrumentation is much better. A Link to the Past's sound design honestly got on my nerves sometimes for example, and I much prefer the renditions in Four Swords Adventures and A Link Between Worlds. Also, Oracle of Seasons really deserves to be a tier above Ages. Many of the unique tracks in Ages fall flat while Seasons had some really memorable ones, especially in regards to the dungeon pieces.
Okay I gotta HARD disagree on A Link Between Worlds. It takes the music that made A Link to the Past great and only makes it better. B-Tier at the absolute lowest.
OH ! I'm soo happy you included romance in the air for Skyward sword. I like that track so much And i don't think BOTW as S tier is anything controversial, that OST is so good and popular.
It has its moments but it's very minimalist. Which is course is thematic, but it also doesn't give much to latch onto. I do like though that the texture of the music flashes out more the deeper you go in the game. Similar to how the world feels very empty in early portions, but you meet more and more people as you explore, and there's actually quite a lot of people left.
Skyward Sword being the first Zelda game to get a live orchestra is thanks to one man at a convention showcase of the game; he asked when would Zelda be getting the live orchestra treatment, and that fueled Nintendo to do it. Thanks Simmons.
The insistance on the teir list being solely based on originality sort of sours the charm of zelda games to begin with. The "make a new game" comment reagarding ALBW is a bit harsh. They DID it was originally just going to be a remaster of ALTTP. But they wanted to change it. And they made some of the most interesting stories in the zelda series. But its by paying homage to ALTTP that helps make it so special. Id cound that as a positive rather than a negative.
I appreciate that you highlighted the Song of Healing. It's the first song I learned on piano, and it's still the one I can play the best (comparative to the other songs I know.) Majoras as a whole is just such an incredible game. I wish we could have more unique experiences like it.
personally i wouldn't rank A Link Between Worlds' soundtrack low for unoriginality. the game was originally going to be a remake of ALTtP, and, afaik, it was that for a lot of the game's development, until they decided to make it a brand new game. considering this, and considering that the game as a whole is supposed to be a sort of parallel to ALTtP, with many mechanics, locations, characters, etc. being the same or evolved versions, I think that it reimagining ALTtP's soundtrack was a perfect decision, for what the game is.
I recommend listening to "Eagle Tower" from Link's Awakening (and its OC ReMix "The Feather's Reflexion"). At first you think it's just a weird loop, but then you realize the track takes its time to build up an otherworldly atmosphere
Wuuuuuuuut? Link's Awakening is a straight up SSS-tier, dude! Windfish, Mabe village, Tal Tal heights, Face Shrine and so on Wind Waker as well is considered the best soundtrack ever by many, many fans and it's only A???!!!
Skyward Sword should get A+ purely for Groose's theme. It's starts loud and bombastic and goofy, and you're like, "oh this fucking guy." But as it goes on, it adds in all these layers, while still having the goofy trombone at it's core and you realize "Yeah he's an ass, but he's not all bad, there's a lot more going on there." Then it gets to the clarinet part, and you're like, "Oh this guy is actually a nice and caring guy. I'm glad he's around." Then the trombone comes back, and you're like, "But he is still kind of an ass."
The way they made old tracks in Link between worlds is really good. The lorule main theme 2 that use the same intro as the one on the 25th anniversary disc makes an awesome sens of progression. In fact, the lorule castle progression is one of the best execution of making the player feel he progress through the dungeon. I think you’ve been really hard on the game lol.
This was a very interesting video. I may have not beaten all of thr Zelda games just yet, but I can definitely understand your reasoning for each placement. I will say however, that while I understand the frustration a composer would feel (despite not being a composer myself) if they just remade old tracks mostly, I do feel like that a remade tracks should also be judged for what they are aswell. A Link Between Worlds is an (indirect) sequel to A Link to the Past, revisiting the same world but with its own twists. I feel like the composers put alot of effort into a remake of what is considered one of the best soundtracks in the series, so I feel like it shouldn't be ranked lower just because it is mostly reused tracks. If they are able to make the reused tracks sound distinct from the originals to suit the game, I believe they hold just as much value as original tracks. Plus, Outset Island and Forest Haven taking inspiration from Kokori Forest while sounding unique and different is very creative, if you ask me. But those are just my thoughts.
I agree with you. I rarely do these tier lists because honestly, I struggle with the idea of placing any game music on a low tier. I just have too much respect for composers and video game music in general. But the genre of the video requires some to be high and some to be low. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Hear me out; I know it's sad that A Link Between Worlds' OST is basically A Link to the Past's but so is the game. They used the same map of Hyrule, same dungeons (with small changes), two worlds, most items, and very similar bosses. So I think it's valid and makes perfect sense. Both the game and the music changed things enough to be there own.
Interesting note about the Ocarina of Time title screen music is that the melody is an expansion of the melody played by the recorder item in the original game.
Loved this list! I really wish you could have included Cadence of Hyrule there since it's so focused on the music part of the games, but it's not really a main installment of the series.
Man, I really love these ranking videos where you break down whole soundtracks. I could watch these for hours-- I'd especially love hearing more in depth thoughts on iconic soundtracks like Chrono Trigger.
This is my first video of yours that I watched. The start hooked me because I thought for sure you were going to rank BotW low, watched the whole thing and then you got to BotW and I was ready to rage but was pleasantly surprised. Love the minimalistic and soft music in that game...keep it up!
Your complaint about Wind Waker's Forest Haven using the Kokiri Forest theme seems kinda silly. Forest Haven isn't just a "forest area", it's the literal Kokiri Forest, home to the Great Deku Tree and the Koroks (which are Kokiri transformed to survive the Great Flood). I'd understand your complaint if it was a generic unrelated forest, but that's not the case.
Ocarina of Time's music will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember performing for the scarecrow and just watching him dance. I spent so much time memorizing the songs and trying to perform them in game. The tense and scarier sounding songs really gave me a sense of horror as a kid as well.
I’m sad you didn’t mention tal tal heights when talking about Link’s Awakening. Especially the remake version is amazing lol Great video tho! You blew my mind when you said the Skyward Sword theme is Zeldas lullaby backwards. I had no idea!
Tal Tal heights is awesome. Mabe Village is one of my favorites too from Link's Awakening. But as you can see, showing 2 or 3 tracks from each game already made the video half an hour long. I wish I could have shown more. Thanks for watching btw!
@@DaviVasc Yeah, I know.... And I'm sure it was incredibly difficult to pick only a few from each game lol And Mabe Village is another amazing track too, for sure
23:17 “I remember there being a boss theme later on in the game that really blew me away at the time” Me: It’s Kolok- **Koloktos begins playing** Me: Knew it
Great video, its lovely seeing how the franchise has evolved over time, but still stayed quite true to its origins. I'm loving the pan pipes, very Zelda!
This was a great video, one of my favourites of yours so far! Zelda (although never my favourite series) has always stood out to me because of the music. Speaking on Link to the Past, have you seen the recent remasters of classic SNES soundtracks? A bunch of people have been working to extract the original samples used to construct the soundtracks, before they were compressed by the space on the cartridge. Super cool!
The problem with those, is that the compression either quieted, or removed entirely, some of the instruments in the original piece and as a result, the main "riffs" of the piece become more the centerpiece, the chiptune sounds that we've gotten very familiar with. The problem with many remakes and remasters done by fans, is that they forget how important the main riff was and they quiet them to where you can barely hear them and then add in a bunch of other instruments, and it just drowns out the original sound. It's the same sin that FF7R commits when redoing some of its themes, esp. the entirely botched and butchered Airbuster theme. You can barely hear the original riff amongst all the metal guitars and it just doesn't sound right, like, _at all._ Very few remakes/remasters know how to properly remix a song and keep the original tune alive instead of drowning it out with lots of other fluff.
I was getting ready to fight if TP was ranked low. It is my favorite game, and I listen to the OST a lot. Yes, it has some of the weird Twilight songs, but I think that just adds to the charm of them going a completely new direction with the almost static-like sounds to compliment a corrupted area
I love the music when Zelda wakes up in the Oracles, it’s so overlooked, I was so happy that you called it out. It’d be nice to hear more variations of it, but I don’t really expect the series to revisit it at this point.
I didn't like botw's soundtrack at first but then I watched a video about how when koji composed the Zelda series he wanted to amplify the atmosphere and with botw's random soft piano notes it perfectly describes the atmosphere of the game which is solitude within botw you're alone just exploring
When he said Koji Kondo composed Zelda 2 I took everything he said after that with a HUGE grain of salt. I happen to think the music in Zelda 2 is fantastic and just as iconic as all other Zelda music. Thank you, Akito Nakatsuka.
I find it cool song of healing is literally lost woods theme backwards. I learned lost woods theme on guitar bc its my favorite. Then i remembered the notes for song of healing on n64 was literally lost woods backwards so then i tried it on guitar playing the first three notes backwards and it came out to actually be song of healing making me enjoy both songs so much more.
Respect for rating Botw so high. So many people rate it poorly because music isn't playing all the time and it's not as bombastic as previous games, but it's tracks are so good. The Molduga theme is my personal fav.
"I think Spirit Tracks is A Tier. It's good!" Me: I mean, I remember it being alright. *Hears intro song......beat drops* Also me: *pulls out ear bud that is now billowing smoke* Goddamn!!
I absolutely adore TP, both the game and the soundtrack. And while they are both the darkest Zelda games, I feel like its unfair to compara Majoras and Twilight, and I feel like the soundtrack is perfect for them both. MM is dark but in a very creepy way, while TP is dark but more in a dramatic, emotional way, and this fits the soundtrack perfectly.
Link between worlds should go to C because of the lorule castle theme and how it was used in game. That was the peak of the game and captures the true spirit of the game imo
“Is it necessary to do it so many times?” Me, a hardcore Zelda fan: Yes, yes it is… 😂 The Legend of Zelda franchise has a very dedicated, loyal following and that is why their usage of old theme songs as samples for their new games is so genius, specially taking into account the lore of the games itself. It is a legend about a curse and reincarnation, the characters we see in every game are not the same Link, Zelda and Gannon that we see in every single game and yet, they are; they have the same soul, the same blood and the same evil but they’re unique to their eras in the timeline. That’s why Breath of the Wild’s soundtrack is amazing in my opinion, it gave me the music that I have come to love along the years of playing Zelda games and breathed a new life into it (pun intended) to fit the story and ambiance of BOTW. It is said that BOTW is at the very end of the timeline in the connected lore of the games, it has even been theorized that it is the game that has finally merged the broken timeline from Ocarina of Time, so to me it makes sense that it has so much old music in its own theme catalog.
I wouldn’t say the third day is “disturbing” but yes the context definitely adds to it. The rushed tempo adds a sense of urgency and increases anxiety. Using time limits and tempo of the music to increase our emotions and add to sense atmosphere of the story was quite well done. Links awakening does deserve at least a B though. Not much original but giving it an average score when yes the ballad of the wind fish is the greatest piece of the game but also what was done with still NES limitations was well done.
Regarding the third day, aside from the faster tempo, there are some very dissonant low pitched chords creeping in and out throughout the song. These feel very disturbing to me, though they might be inaudible in some speakers. Thanks for watching btw!
I am so glad someone agrees with me about breath of the wild! I think most people don't like it because it doesn't have a big majestic theme but it thematically doesn't need one because hyrule is in ruins. I love the way the composer pulls apart the themes we love and know and begins to rebuild them just as hyrule is beginning to rebuild and recover. I think it has one of the best desert themes I've ever heard in a game (desert field) because it sounds purely wild and scorching with no human influence aka it doesn't take from world musics found in cultures that live near and in deserts (except it does do that but only when there's been evidence of humans there like the paths to and from gerudo Town or gerudo Town itself which obviously has people). I also love the ideas of "natural vs unnatural" which presents itself in several ways, as nature vs tech but also human vs wild (as in the desert example). My fav example of nature vs tech is the tower theme where you hear both the natural field theme and hints of the techy shrine like sounds working together in harmony much like the bright blues and oranges contrast the greens. Oke oke ill stop now but just know I could absolutely write an academic essay on this and I hate essays lmao, much more of a performance and comp kid
The most perfect music of Skyward Sword (for me) is without a doubt Fi's farewell just because it really give you one of the biggest punch in the guts I have ever seen
The temple theme from Zelda 2 was so trippy for me, when I was young I used to think it came from melee because that’s how I was introduced to it but I was mind blown when I learnt it was a Zelda song (coming from someone that was a hardcore Zelda fan throughout childhood and teens) It’s an amazing track but like you said, it doesn’t scream “Zelda”
I've been making some videos about the music of Tears of the Kingdom! I think you'll like them: czcams.com/video/0V-TmHrZL08/video.html&pp=gAQBiAQB
The most iconic BOTW song is the one that encites fear into the heart of anyone who has ever played.
The guardian... *shiver
Try corrupted dragon, the theme of malice infected naydra.
The castle theme, I heard it and it made me feel weak
I like how everyone has a different answer. I think in other Zelda games, it would be more universally one track. But Breath of the Wild works with people in all kinds of ways, it means something different to everyone
_Piano has entered the soundtrack_
That wolf howl in the opening theme of Twilight Princess gives me chills everytime I hear it!
Same!
for me its the part of midnas theme that kicks in after the howl
the trailer song is pure bliss
Yeah, regardless of where I’d place this game in my Zelda ranking. The soundtrack is fantastic!
For me it's the choir sounding part just before the high note and wolf howl 👌✨️
Fun fact, in A Link Between Worlds, there is a major theme of how Lorule is a mirror of Hyrule, and because of that, the Lorule castle theme is the Hyrule castle theme in reverse
Midna's Lament is an inversion of Zelda's Lullaby. Same general idea.
@@TheSchaef47 The Ballad of the Goddess is the reverse of Zelda's Lullaby
The Minish Cap is such an underrated Zelda game developed by Capcom that it's criminal that not a lot of people in the Zelda community talk about. Beautiful art direction. One of the best looking games on the GBA that still holds up even today visually. I especially LOVE the Minish Woods and Minish Village theme. There's just this calming and nostalgic quality to them that I just never get tired of listening to.
I could not agree more!! I grew up with The Minish Cap and this game has this perfect childlike and comforting atmosphere that really just makes this game feel like it’s giving you a hug whenever you are playing it! Definitely one of my favorite Zelda games, and one of my favorite Zelda soundtracks!
for real
Capcom Zelda games are in need for a remake or at the very least re-release. They are so underrated, loved both oracle games and i need to play Minish Cap.
Top 5 all time for sure. Most slept on zelda.
Developed by Capcom and Flagship, with Nintendo overseeing the development process
Flahship are the company developping before that The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages!!!
personally, I'd give skyward sword an S tier. it's so good. I really love that soundtrack.
one of the things I really like about the soundtrack that other zelda soundtracks don't to as much is how dynamic it is (other zelda soundtracks do of course have this, just not as much or not as obviously). almost all the music in lanayru is a good example, there's a different version for the past and present. other examples include skyloft, girahim, the imprisoned, skyview temple, etc. not all of the variations are even on the soundtrack.
also, I'd put a link between worlds higher. in general, I personally rank the music more based on how much I enjoy listening to it, but even without that, I think it deserves better than D. it doesn't have to be A or S, but atleast higher than D in my opinion. I don't think we can really blame the game's soundtrack for being a lot of link to the past remixes considering what the game is. it's a different case than four swords adventures, which is entirely its own game, yet still has link to the past remixes for no good reason. (plus, ALBW's original themes are all REALLY good, even some of the more minor ones)
and honestly, the remixes are all so good and add in so much originality in too. the hyrule dungeon theme is fantastic.
I completely agree!
I agree completely. Skyward Sword is an *EASY* S tier ost for me.
Idk man, I was left highly unimpressed by Skyward Sword's ost.
I agree it had some key songs that were good, but the overall sountrack was quite forgettable, at least compared to most of the other games.
If Groose’s theme didn’t have like, 5 variants, I could give it S. Ghirahim’s theme is a great track
A Link Between Worlds has one of the best soundtracks in the series!
And Skyward Sword music is still way better
Apparently I forgot how the alphabet works because I skipped E tier and went straight from D to F lol
But anyway, I have a bunch of videos where I talk about video game music, make sure to check em out: czcams.com/video/65IPMLbvL28/video.html
Hello Davi, have you listening to mh rise zinogre theme?
Eh, you’re fine, it’s based on grades we can say. There is no “mom I got an E in math!”
@@MattSmith38258 You didn’t have E at your school?
The windwaker title theme inspired me to play violin
Tier lists always skip E so it’s ok
Ocarina of Time is such a perfect example of how limitations can often foster creativity rather than stifle it. Koji Kondo being forced to make songs that use 3 note patterns led to possibly the greatest video game soundtrack of all time (at the very least, it is a strong contender)
Totally agree. The difficult only reveal the man's genius.
By far the greatest soundtrack ever. In my opinion. Love OOT
The reason the kokiri soundtrack is used in outset Island and the forest area is because Outset Island is right above the Kokiri Forest and the Great Deku Tree in Wind Waker is heavily hinted to be the Great Deku Tree's Sprout in the adult timeline from Ocarina of Time who grew from the corpse of the Great Deku Tree in the kokiri forest. The point of using those leimotifs in the soundtrack is the game hinting at you from early on that you're standing literally on the remains of the old Hyrule from Ocarina of Time.
Wind Waker below Breath of the Wild music wise is criminal. Breath of the wild also uses old sountracks for most of its songs. Heck, Castle theme is like 3 different songs combined. But Wind Waker gets bumped down for it? Wind Waker was also different in its musical style that fits its themes and game style.
Wind Waker soundtrack is S tier. Shika-Shika guy deserves more respect.
Not true. Forbidden Forest is supposed to be Kokiri Forest. You can even see the homes that the Kokiri used to live in inside the dungeon.
@Death Gun it's his opinion, at the end of the day most zelda soundtracks are great
@@Hi-fd4cwforbidden forest is a part of Kokiri forest but mostly It's the lost woods. The Great Deku Tree in WW is confirmed to be Ocarina of Time's sprout. He also spokes in ancient hylian and misunderstands Link for a Kokiri (which, with time have turned into koroks)
You can't talk about OOT without mentioning Gerudo Valley, The Song of Time, and The Song of Storms. They're all fantastic. I also really enjoy the ambient music from the forest and spirit temples.
yeah totally agree, those are my fav too
gerudo valley might be the best song in all of gaming
2:30 Just some info - Zelda II Adventure of Link was NOT composed by Koji Kondo, instead it was composed by Akito Nakatsuka. That's why the soundtrack sounds a bit different than the rest
yeah I was thinking because it sounds super random and nothing like koji kondo
It's also my 2nd least favorite soundtrack (my least favorite being that of Triforce Heroes, which is also my least favorite Zelda game).
@@pirategamer6630 No one asked 💀
I'm sorry...
@@hajilee4539 ok
@@anthonyryan6208 ok
Wind Waker hit me when I realized the twin sages together were the main theme of the game. The two people whom you instilled intrinsic belief in are the ones capable of restoring the power of the weapon you wield you seal Ganondorf and a failed hyrule
Sage Fado's Theme is probably the most underrated song in the game. Not the one that Makar plays, the one when you first walk in to the wind temple and meet Fado's spirit. I know it's the same song as Laruto's theme and the song that plays at the very beginning of the game, but it just hits different for some reason.
17:30 the soundtrack of Twilight Princess is amazing, S tier.
Yes
EXACTLY
Yuh
No, a tier is enough.
@@chrisandreas3142 Absolutely not.
I'm glad that you loved the musics from Spirit Tracks. Did you know that the overworld theme is actually called "Full Steam Ahead"?
Nope. That’s the smash bros version of the theme
It's called "Realm Overworld" in Spirit Tracks. However, the Smash Bros. Ultimate version is called "Full Steam Ahead".
@@pirategamer6630Well that's definitely a better name.
Oh man... I was waiting for Link Between Worlds, because its one of my favorite Zwlda OST's, and to see it get an F/D. The composition of some of the new tracks was great. Fit this game. Perfectly!
The fact that he didn't even mention Lorule Castle or the Desert Temple is criminal.
@@akaashraghunath8677idk just saying "it's based on lttp so its bad" was kinda dumb imo
skyward sword is an s tier soundtrack every song in beautifully composed and orchestrated
True. TBH, I struggled to enjoy the gameplay of some of Skyward Sword. But the music is fantastic, and the story is pretty good, too.
I’d definitely put Link’s Awakening as A-Tier at the very least. The Ballad of the Wind Fish alone makes it shoot up for me, not to mention the incredible Tal Tal Heights and the gorgeous Face Shrine.
I replayed MM recently and probably hadn't played it for 10 years and was struck how well they tell the story with the music... especially how it illustrates the theme of friendship, making friends, losing friends, forgiving people, being vulnerable. how the giants are introduced with this strange choral song, and all we are told at the end is that the skull kid was lonely and wanted friends, but with majoras mask, he went too far and was easily persuaded to kill everyone. how often do we get angry with the people in our lives, and want to shout at them? but we know we can risk hurting people. it's ultimately a story about asking for forgiveness, and being even braver, and actually forgiving people. that's why the giants, link, and tatl and tael, all come together to help their friend (remember Link and the skull kid are from the same place, and even knew each other!) anyway I love that game and I love the music!
In Link's Awakening, how could you _not_ talk about one of the best tracks ever heard coming out of a Gameboy's speaker, the theme that plays in the Tal-Tal Heights? If that didn't inspire adventure in you, I didn't know what did.
Exactly. Link’s Awakening is actually excellent musically.
He didn't talk about a lot of excellent pieces, and he said a lot of misinformation. I recommend for him to take more time to research before making a video like this.
@@lonesilv he admitted himself that he was going off memory. he really should've listened to each of the individual soundtracks before making a video on the topic.
Not only is links awakening soundtrack top tier, but the remakes music takes it to the next level
As a fellow composer and Zelda fanatic, when you gave Spirit Tracks and Tri Force Heroes praise, I knew that this list is valid! Very great selections.
Honestly there were a fair number of new songs in A Link Between Worlds that really stood out: the themes for Yuga, both in battle and in cutscenes, and the variation of Hilda's theme, especially stand out, as does the final boss theme.
I do have to point out though that while sure having two songs in one game based off the kokiri forest, the Forest Haven in Windwaker is literally Kokiri Forest hundreds of years later and flooded so it makes sense. Also just hearing Midna’s Lament made tears come to my eyes. I love Twilight Princess’ musoc
Yup right you are they are the same place of the Adult timeline 🌊
I realized that the first time I played wind waker back in 2002
I mean aside from the music you had the magic pixies 🧚 dust flowing around you had the big deku tree that was literally in kokiri forest of OOT
not to mention the forest dungeon in wind Waker has to be the old deku tree corpse remember the deku marking on the doors twilight princess had them to in the child timeline 🌳 and they both had the boomerang 🪃
And I must say it’s so obvious that the cute kikwi of skyward sword are now doubt the starting point of the koroks!!! Existence! Along with the big kikwi being the deku tree
This is probably a bad time to tell him that the Windfall Island theme references Kakariko Village
I will always hold BOTW in the highest regard, because it is so thematically consistent and knows exactly where to direct its intensity and when to take a back seat entirely. Plus it has some of the downright most beautiful tracks in the series, augmented by it being orchestral unlike most other titles.
The only thing I do not like about the game is that I have to play it with the original japanese voices with somewhat inaccurate english subtitles due to changes made in the english dub. Because I can’t stand the english voice acting. But I have no problem at all with the japanese, in fact it fits far better with the already anime aesthetic.
Also I can’t imagine putting Skyward Sword any lower than S-tier
If you set your Switch to Surround Sound and you don't have a surround sound setup in your room, it mutes the voices but keeps all the other sounds of the game. It's very strange
Thematically, Japanese doesn't really make any sense, since Hylians are essentially the British in almost every aspect except their colonialism. Artistically, sure, in some areas. But thematically, no.
@@sledgedragon2677 oh I don’t prefer the japanese because of the visual theme, I prefer it because it’s
A) obviously anime in style
B) I find the english voice acting unbearable.
I am slightly influenced by the Switch remake but Link's Awakening deserves a bit more credit imo. Some people mentioned Tal Tal Heights but the face shrines themes also feel very special to me, they have this quite unique dark vibe which fits really well the narrative turning point in the game!
It's also the first Zelda that had different tracks for each dungeon!
6:58 Zelda's Lullaby was first used in A Link to the Past, though under a different name I think.
EDIT: It's called "Princess Zelda's Rescue" in ALTTP, which plays when you rescue Zelda from the Castle Dungeon near the beginning of the game. The motif is also used in "Meeting the Maidens", which plays when you rescue each of the 7 crystal maidens in the Dark World (and Zelda is among their number).
You are correct. My bad!
Kakariko first appears in LttP as well. That wasn't contested in this video, it's just that most people don't realize that.
I'm pretty sure it only plays after you rescue Zelda for the first time in the GBA version, I don't recall it playing in the SNES version. It still does play after rescuing a maiden though.
Spirit Tracks is such an underrated Zelda game, and the soundtrack as well, thanks for highlighting it!
I loved being able to feel your own nostalgia with that spirit tracks soundtrack; I can tell it meant a lot to you growing up, even if the game isn’t as talked about now
Im amazed you didnt play the stone towers theme from majoras mask, its probably my favorite dungeon song in any zelda
Honestly I don't remember it. Gonna listen to it now, thank you for reminding me!
i was gonna say the same with bellum's theme from phantom hourglass, i just think it's cool because it's in 13/8
Palace of Twilight is another track that really shows off Twilight Princess's range and ability to create dark mystique. Hearing that game's music instantly makes me want to replay it, without fail
The fact most of these are top tier says a lot about how amazing the soundtracks are!
Spirit track also has an amazing good soundtrack for the staircase in the tower of the gods. I remember standing at the top just listening to the awsome track
Crimson Loftwing theme from Skyward Sword, most underrated tune in the series. The french horn harmony intertwining with the flute is a beautiful duet.
7:12 Wait a sec where's the link's awakening remake soundtrack
The improvement from the original is insane. Its really great.
I didn't touch the remakes in this video, otherwise it would get way too long. But you're right, LA Remake sounds beautiful.
@Meese ^^This! Tal Tal Heights was one of the best things ever composed for a Gameboy, like, ever.
Excited for this video! I've only fully beat a few LOZ games but my favorite is Wind Waker 🍃
That is my favorite too!
Gerudo Valley from Ocarina is such a banger!
It is!
I'm so glad to see the Spirit Tracks soundtrack recive the credit it deserves! Thanks you.
It doesn't, he should've ranked it A+ instead of Twilight Princess
I personally don't find song reuse throughout the series as too much of a negative, since most of the time the instrumentation is much better. A Link to the Past's sound design honestly got on my nerves sometimes for example, and I much prefer the renditions in Four Swords Adventures and A Link Between Worlds.
Also, Oracle of Seasons really deserves to be a tier above Ages. Many of the unique tracks in Ages fall flat while Seasons had some really memorable ones, especially in regards to the dungeon pieces.
Okay I gotta HARD disagree on A Link Between Worlds. It takes the music that made A Link to the Past great and only makes it better. B-Tier at the absolute lowest.
OH ! I'm soo happy you included romance in the air for Skyward sword. I like that track so much
And i don't think BOTW as S tier is anything controversial, that OST is so good and popular.
Romance in the Air is so good!
It has its moments but it's very minimalist. Which is course is thematic, but it also doesn't give much to latch onto. I do like though that the texture of the music flashes out more the deeper you go in the game. Similar to how the world feels very empty in early portions, but you meet more and more people as you explore, and there's actually quite a lot of people left.
Another fun fact: the Death Mountain theme peeks into the music when you are scrambling around... well, Death Mountain.
Skyward Sword being the first Zelda game to get a live orchestra is thanks to one man at a convention showcase of the game; he asked when would Zelda be getting the live orchestra treatment, and that fueled Nintendo to do it. Thanks Simmons.
Thanks for the Minish Cap appreciate, it truly is a top-of-the-line 2D Zelda game in many ways
Glad you gave spirit tracks a lot of recognition for the music. The flute just goes well with a lot of the OSTs.
The insistance on the teir list being solely based on originality sort of sours the charm of zelda games to begin with.
The "make a new game" comment reagarding ALBW is a bit harsh. They DID it was originally just going to be a remaster of ALTTP. But they wanted to change it. And they made some of the most interesting stories in the zelda series. But its by paying homage to ALTTP that helps make it so special. Id cound that as a positive rather than a negative.
Twilight Princess is my favorite game of all time so its always great to see it get some love!!
The twilight princess opening theme literally gives (and gave) me chills
I would give skyward sword an S!!
I appreciate that you highlighted the Song of Healing. It's the first song I learned on piano, and it's still the one I can play the best (comparative to the other songs I know.) Majoras as a whole is just such an incredible game. I wish we could have more unique experiences like it.
Absolutely. I would love to hear Koji Kondo playing off of such nuanced and dark emotions again
I know when i play song of healing backwards on guitar its lost woods theme does it work on piano as well
does anyone realise that song of healing is literally reverse of lost woods? it has a completely different feel and is almost depressing to lost woods
I never realized that but it's quite fascinating!
Only the six notes you play on the Ocarina. It’s far different in every other part.
personally i wouldn't rank A Link Between Worlds' soundtrack low for unoriginality. the game was originally going to be a remake of ALTtP, and, afaik, it was that for a lot of the game's development, until they decided to make it a brand new game. considering this, and considering that the game as a whole is supposed to be a sort of parallel to ALTtP, with many mechanics, locations, characters, etc. being the same or evolved versions, I think that it reimagining ALTtP's soundtrack was a perfect decision, for what the game is.
I recommend listening to "Eagle Tower" from Link's Awakening (and its OC ReMix "The Feather's Reflexion"). At first you think it's just a weird loop, but then you realize the track takes its time to build up an otherworldly atmosphere
I was disappointed by the complete snub of the tal tal mountain theme.
Yup. LA deserved higher than D.
Didn't think I would sit through the full length of this video. Loved hearing your throughs on Zeldas soundtracks!! Very good video!!
Wuuuuuuuut? Link's Awakening is a straight up SSS-tier, dude!
Windfish, Mabe village, Tal Tal heights, Face Shrine and so on
Wind Waker as well is considered the best soundtrack ever by many, many fans and it's only A???!!!
Great video. Would love to see a rank for each individual game's soundtrack, rating your favorites from BOTW etc.
damn this ranking is ON POINT! something about the songs from this game series that just brings back so many memories. thank you!
Skyward Sword should get A+ purely for Groose's theme.
It's starts loud and bombastic and goofy, and you're like, "oh this fucking guy."
But as it goes on, it adds in all these layers, while still having the goofy trombone at it's core and you realize "Yeah he's an ass, but he's not all bad, there's a lot more going on there."
Then it gets to the clarinet part, and you're like, "Oh this guy is actually a nice and caring guy. I'm glad he's around."
Then the trombone comes back, and you're like, "But he is still kind of an ass."
The way they made old tracks in Link between worlds is really good. The lorule main theme 2 that use the same intro as the one on the 25th anniversary disc makes an awesome sens of progression.
In fact, the lorule castle progression is one of the best execution of making the player feel he progress through the dungeon. I think you’ve been really hard on the game lol.
This was a very interesting video. I may have not beaten all of thr Zelda games just yet, but I can definitely understand your reasoning for each placement. I will say however, that while I understand the frustration a composer would feel (despite not being a composer myself) if they just remade old tracks mostly, I do feel like that a remade tracks should also be judged for what they are aswell. A Link Between Worlds is an (indirect) sequel to A Link to the Past, revisiting the same world but with its own twists. I feel like the composers put alot of effort into a remake of what is considered one of the best soundtracks in the series, so I feel like it shouldn't be ranked lower just because it is mostly reused tracks. If they are able to make the reused tracks sound distinct from the originals to suit the game, I believe they hold just as much value as original tracks.
Plus, Outset Island and Forest Haven taking inspiration from Kokori Forest while sounding unique and different is very creative, if you ask me. But those are just my thoughts.
I agree with you. I rarely do these tier lists because honestly, I struggle with the idea of placing any game music on a low tier. I just have too much respect for composers and video game music in general. But the genre of the video requires some to be high and some to be low. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Wooo glad to see some of the more underrated Zelda games get some love! Spirit tracks' soundtrack is one of my favorites of all times
Hear me out;
I know it's sad that A Link Between Worlds' OST is basically A Link to the Past's but so is the game. They used the same map of Hyrule, same dungeons (with small changes), two worlds, most items, and very similar bosses.
So I think it's valid and makes perfect sense. Both the game and the music changed things enough to be there own.
Exactly. Same thing with how Phantom Hourglass is a kind of sequel to Wind Waker. It’s not weird but rather smart that the music is inspired.
Interesting note about the Ocarina of Time title screen music is that the melody is an expansion of the melody played by the recorder item in the original game.
HOLY S%*+!!!!
I can’t believe I never noticed that...
Loved this list!
I really wish you could have included Cadence of Hyrule there since it's so focused on the music part of the games, but it's not really a main installment of the series.
My guy woke up one day and decided to anger an entire community lol
Man, I really love these ranking videos where you break down whole soundtracks. I could watch these for hours-- I'd especially love hearing more in depth thoughts on iconic soundtracks like Chrono Trigger.
This is my first video of yours that I watched. The start hooked me because I thought for sure you were going to rank BotW low, watched the whole thing and then you got to BotW and I was ready to rage but was pleasantly surprised. Love the minimalistic and soft music in that game...keep it up!
Oh dearest Zelda 2 one day they'll appreciate your beauty.
Your complaint about Wind Waker's Forest Haven using the Kokiri Forest theme seems kinda silly. Forest Haven isn't just a "forest area", it's the literal Kokiri Forest, home to the Great Deku Tree and the Koroks (which are Kokiri transformed to survive the Great Flood). I'd understand your complaint if it was a generic unrelated forest, but that's not the case.
I never even realize it used the same theme. It sounds so unique.
Minish Cap is my favorite, personally. The Palace of Winds is soooo good. And the end credits, too.
5:50 "This sounds like no other Zelda music before"
Somewhere in the lands of Zelda 1, the recorder is in shock
Ocarina of Time's music will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember performing for the scarecrow and just watching him dance. I spent so much time memorizing the songs and trying to perform them in game. The tense and scarier sounding songs really gave me a sense of horror as a kid as well.
The way that game incorporated music in the gameplay is godly
The Ocarina melody in Ocarina of Time's intro is the warp whistle theme from Zelda 1
Glad you said Zelda 1 and not Mario 3.
Great video!
I’m sad you didn’t mention tal tal heights when talking about Link’s Awakening. Especially the remake version is amazing lol
Great video tho! You blew my mind when you said the Skyward Sword theme is Zeldas lullaby backwards. I had no idea!
Tal Tal heights is awesome. Mabe Village is one of my favorites too from Link's Awakening. But as you can see, showing 2 or 3 tracks from each game already made the video half an hour long. I wish I could have shown more. Thanks for watching btw!
@@DaviVasc Yeah, I know.... And I'm sure it was incredibly difficult to pick only a few from each game lol And Mabe Village is another amazing track too, for sure
I'm so glad you have Majora the credit it deserves!
I think Majora might just be the peak of video game music in the Zelda series
19:25 3 words: Dynamic. Bazaar. Music.
23:17
“I remember there being a boss theme later on in the game that really blew me away at the time”
Me: It’s Kolok-
**Koloktos begins playing**
Me: Knew it
Great video, its lovely seeing how the franchise has evolved over time, but still stayed quite true to its origins. I'm loving the pan pipes, very Zelda!
Yeah, it's so cool to see how far the series went since 1987!
Zelda's relevance into gaming history is way more thsn just gameplay, storytelling, character development or mechanics, music is superb.
This was a great video, one of my favourites of yours so far! Zelda (although never my favourite series) has always stood out to me because of the music.
Speaking on Link to the Past, have you seen the recent remasters of classic SNES soundtracks? A bunch of people have been working to extract the original samples used to construct the soundtracks, before they were compressed by the space on the cartridge. Super cool!
Ah, sorry Patrick, I missed your comment somehow. Yeah, I've seen the remasters! ALttP and Mario World sound amazing with original samples.
The problem with those, is that the compression either quieted, or removed entirely, some of the instruments in the original piece and as a result, the main "riffs" of the piece become more the centerpiece, the chiptune sounds that we've gotten very familiar with. The problem with many remakes and remasters done by fans, is that they forget how important the main riff was and they quiet them to where you can barely hear them and then add in a bunch of other instruments, and it just drowns out the original sound. It's the same sin that FF7R commits when redoing some of its themes, esp. the entirely botched and butchered Airbuster theme. You can barely hear the original riff amongst all the metal guitars and it just doesn't sound right, like, _at all._ Very few remakes/remasters know how to properly remix a song and keep the original tune alive instead of drowning it out with lots of other fluff.
I was getting ready to fight if TP was ranked low. It is my favorite game, and I listen to the OST a lot. Yes, it has some of the weird Twilight songs, but I think that just adds to the charm of them going a completely new direction with the almost static-like sounds to compliment a corrupted area
I love the music when Zelda wakes up in the Oracles, it’s so overlooked, I was so happy that you called it out. It’d be nice to hear more variations of it, but I don’t really expect the series to revisit it at this point.
I didn't like botw's soundtrack at first but then I watched a video about how when koji composed the Zelda series he wanted to amplify the atmosphere and with botw's random soft piano notes it perfectly describes the atmosphere of the game which is solitude within botw you're alone just exploring
Change the title of this video to "Giving you the chills with iconic Music for 28 Minutes"
Nah Link between Worlds should have been higher Lorule Castle is amazing I agree with a lot of your others though
When he said Koji Kondo composed Zelda 2 I took everything he said after that with a HUGE grain of salt. I happen to think the music in Zelda 2 is fantastic and just as iconic as all other Zelda music. Thank you, Akito Nakatsuka.
This video was so nostalgic, Zelda music never fails to make me happy :)
Twilight princess is my favorite game , I adored it as a child and I cannot believe the game is 15 years old now
15 already? What a hell
I find it cool song of healing is literally lost woods theme backwards. I learned lost woods theme on guitar bc its my favorite. Then i remembered the notes for song of healing on n64 was literally lost woods backwards so then i tried it on guitar playing the first three notes backwards and it came out to actually be song of healing making me enjoy both songs so much more.
Love this video! Glad the algorithm got me here
an error in 23:45, it should be romance in the air not ballad of the goddess, davi forgor to change the text
Respect for rating Botw so high. So many people rate it poorly because music isn't playing all the time and it's not as bombastic as previous games, but it's tracks are so good. The Molduga theme is my personal fav.
"I think Spirit Tracks is A Tier. It's good!"
Me: I mean, I remember it being alright. *Hears intro song......beat drops*
Also me: *pulls out ear bud that is now billowing smoke* Goddamn!!
5:45 "this sounds like no other Zelda music before"
/proceeds to play a theme based off the warp whistle melody in the original Legend of Zelda
That's the best Zelda song tier list I've ever seen
I absolutely adore TP, both the game and the soundtrack. And while they are both the darkest Zelda games, I feel like its unfair to compara Majoras and Twilight, and I feel like the soundtrack is perfect for them both.
MM is dark but in a very creepy way, while TP is dark but more in a dramatic, emotional way, and this fits the soundtrack perfectly.
Link between worlds should go to C because of the lorule castle theme and how it was used in game. That was the peak of the game and captures the true spirit of the game imo
Lorule Castle theme is great indeed
“Is it necessary to do it so many times?”
Me, a hardcore Zelda fan: Yes, yes it is… 😂
The Legend of Zelda franchise has a very dedicated, loyal following and that is why their usage of old theme songs as samples for their new games is so genius, specially taking into account the lore of the games itself. It is a legend about a curse and reincarnation, the characters we see in every game are not the same Link, Zelda and Gannon that we see in every single game and yet, they are; they have the same soul, the same blood and the same evil but they’re unique to their eras in the timeline.
That’s why Breath of the Wild’s soundtrack is amazing in my opinion, it gave me the music that I have come to love along the years of playing Zelda games and breathed a new life into it (pun intended) to fit the story and ambiance of BOTW. It is said that BOTW is at the very end of the timeline in the connected lore of the games, it has even been theorized that it is the game that has finally merged the broken timeline from Ocarina of Time, so to me it makes sense that it has so much old music in its own theme catalog.
I wouldn’t say the third day is “disturbing” but yes the context definitely adds to it. The rushed tempo adds a sense of urgency and increases anxiety. Using time limits and tempo of the music to increase our emotions and add to sense atmosphere of the story was quite well done. Links awakening does deserve at least a B though. Not much original but giving it an average score when yes the ballad of the wind fish is the greatest piece of the game but also what was done with still NES limitations was well done.
Regarding the third day, aside from the faster tempo, there are some very dissonant low pitched chords creeping in and out throughout the song. These feel very disturbing to me, though they might be inaudible in some speakers. Thanks for watching btw!
I am so glad someone agrees with me about breath of the wild! I think most people don't like it because it doesn't have a big majestic theme but it thematically doesn't need one because hyrule is in ruins. I love the way the composer pulls apart the themes we love and know and begins to rebuild them just as hyrule is beginning to rebuild and recover. I think it has one of the best desert themes I've ever heard in a game (desert field) because it sounds purely wild and scorching with no human influence aka it doesn't take from world musics found in cultures that live near and in deserts (except it does do that but only when there's been evidence of humans there like the paths to and from gerudo Town or gerudo Town itself which obviously has people). I also love the ideas of "natural vs unnatural" which presents itself in several ways, as nature vs tech but also human vs wild (as in the desert example). My fav example of nature vs tech is the tower theme where you hear both the natural field theme and hints of the techy shrine like sounds working together in harmony much like the bright blues and oranges contrast the greens. Oke oke ill stop now but just know I could absolutely write an academic essay on this and I hate essays lmao, much more of a performance and comp kid
The most perfect music of Skyward Sword (for me) is without a doubt Fi's farewell just because it really give you one of the biggest punch in the guts I have ever seen
The temple theme from Zelda 2 was so trippy for me, when I was young I used to think it came from melee because that’s how I was introduced to it but I was mind blown when I learnt it was a Zelda song (coming from someone that was a hardcore Zelda fan throughout childhood and teens) It’s an amazing track but like you said, it doesn’t scream “Zelda”